“More than possible,” he said, realizing in this way he could show her that a union with him did not mean he would dominate her. “And it allows you most of the control.”
He could tell by the seductive smile that crossed her lips as she considered the options that the idea appealed to her. Hell and damnation…for a smile like that, he’d give her control of anything she desired.
“How?” she asked, and he knew she’d made her decision.
“I’ll show you.”
Cool air brushed his heated skin as he freed himself from his drawers. “Raise up on your knees,” he commanded. When she did, his hand cupped her and she moaned. He slipped his fingers along the slick outer folds of her mons, dipping inside to ensure she was ready for him. The hot moisture that greeted him nearly sent him spilling.
With one hand gripping her hip, Geoffrey guided himself to her entrance. The skin of his cock stretched impossibly tight, so ready was he to possess her. Yet he ceded control to Liliana. “Place your hands on my chest. When you are ready,” he rasped, “lower yourself onto me.” He wondered if he would be able to stand her slow descent as she adjusted to him, but he vowed not to take charge even if he had to bite through his lip to remain still.
Liliana braced herself on him and closed her eyes, and then she was surrounding him, an inch at first but steadily, inexorably she took more.
Geoffrey gritted his teeth against the pleasure of her body tightening spasmodically around him. And yet he did not move. All feeling centered squarely on where they were joined, all focus on the woman giving herself to him without fear or hesitation.
By God, she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Perspiration beaded her forehead as her face tightened in concentration. Her teeth tugged at her lower lip as she experienced his intimate invasion.
She took a deep breath as he came to her maidenhead. Her violet eyes opened, and the look as she gazed at him spoke of pure trust, of love. Gratitude burst within him. What had he done to deserve her? Whatever it had been, he would spend his life repaying fate for sending her to him.
She leaned forward, her chestnut hair cocooning his face, and she kissed him at the exact moment she lowered her body completely, giving herself to him.
“Oh God, Liliana,” he groaned when he could once again breathe. The exquisiteness of being fully seated inside her was like nothing he’d ever known. He couldn’t explain, couldn’t think of anything other than the fact that he felt right. And responsible. Responsible for taking care of this precious gift of a woman, not only in this moment, but for all time.
“Let me,” he whispered, taking her hips in his grasp. “Let me love you.”
As he said the words, he realized he was unafraid. Liliana had erased the fear. He didn’t know if he could love her in the way she deserved after spending a lifetime fighting that emotion, but he wanted to try.
She rose upright, arching her back as she pressed herself to him. “Yes.”
Geoffrey surged upward, lifting her, yet he held her still at the crest as he withdrew. She bent her head, her eyes searching his, and then she cried out as he brought them together again, hard and fast.
“Yes, Geoffrey. Please.” Liliana’s breath came quickly as he pounded into her again, and each gasp whipped him.
Geoffrey groaned, knowing he couldn’t last much longer in her heat. He had to make this good for her. She’d caught the rhythm well enough, so he released her hips. He moved one hand to her mons, his thumb finding the center of her pleasure. He brought his other around her neck, pulling her to him for a hot kiss.
His lips devoured her, pouring every bit of emotion he could into his kiss as his hips thrust up to meet hers in a frenzied, rotating flurry. His thumb circled her clitoris in counterpoint, and he could sense her tightening around him. Hurry. Hurry, darling.
It had never been this good, and he was quickly losing control. His only thought now was to take her with him.
He pressed her tightly, using every last bit of his effort to steady his thrusts. Then he released her clitoris from beneath his thumb and flicked it.
Liliana exploded around him, gripping, milking, moaning her release. He slammed upward one last time, and then Geoffrey knew nothing else other than what it felt like to empty his very soul into another person.
Chapter Twenty-three
F
eeling came back slowly as Geoffrey emerged from a satiated fog enough to comprehend the sensations. The finest linen and wool money could buy abraded his overly sensitized skin like the coarsest broadcloth. Gooseflesh raised on his body as cool air traveled over places that had recently burned. Hot drips splashed against his neck where Liliana had buried her face after collapsing upon him—
Hot drips? It took some doing but Geoffrey opened his eyes and blinked. Liliana still lay astride him, but she was draped over him now with her head tucked into the crook of his shoulder. The tantalizing scent of apples and lemons wafted from her hair, filling him with a measure of peace, and yet…
A hitching, irregular movement registered. Liliana seemed unable to catch her breath. Geoffrey focused, and alarm raced through him as he put the clues together. The hot drips raining down upon his skin must be tears. Her tears.
He instinctively tightened his grip, smoothing his hands over her back and shoulders. Yes, now he could hear her soft sobs, and the sound ripped through his heart. Had he harmed her? He hadn’t been gentle, but she’d seemed to have preferred him that way.
Bloody ass. She’d been the novice, he the experienced one. He should have maintained control, as she hadn’t known any better what she’d been asking.
He brought a hand up, running it over her temple and through her cascading curls. “Liliana?” His voice croaked from his throat, which shouldn’t surprise him given the raw shouts of pleasure he’d barely stifled. “Love, are you all right?”
She tensed atop him and held her breath, but a fresh wash of tears splashed against his neck. His chest tightened. “Sweetling,” he murmured, wishing she would raise her head so that he could see her face. “Have I…” He swallowed, dreading the answer. “Have I hurt you?”
At that, she lifted her head, and Geoffrey ached at what he saw. Liliana’s lips were flush, the lines of her face smooth and sated, yet the satisfied look of a woman well pleasured warred with one in abject misery.
She raised herself to a sitting position. The sliding movement shot pleasure through him even as he slipped from inside her, yet Liliana only wiped at what seemed to be an endless torrent of tears. Geoffrey’s alarm increased. She wasn’t the sort to cry. He’d known women who had wept tears of release after intense climax, but this was different, serious. Dread chased away Geoffrey’s lingering afterglow.
“Oh, love,” he said, his stomach twisting. “I’m so sorry—”
As she had just before accepting his proposal, Liliana stopped his words with her fingers upon his lips. Only this time, those fingers trembled. “No,” she whispered. “If anyone should apologize—” She bit her lip, her head moving slowly from side to side. Moisture had deepened her irises to a violet pool. Her chest rose as she inhaled, and her eyes fluttered with rapid blinks as she composed herself. “It is I who am sorry, Geoffrey,” she said, her voice once again strong, yet with a note of bravado that tweaked his heart. “More than you can know.”